Untold Facts

Ziaur Rahman: A Pakistani Spy?

In a recent press briefing, State Law Minister Qamrul Islam said that former president Ziaur Rahman was a Pakistani intelligence agent during the liberation war in 1971. He threw a challenge saying he had evidences to prove his point. What a great revelation after nearly 40 years! He also mentioned that Ziaur Rahman was an intelligence officer in Pakistan army and that he rehabilitated the Razakars and war criminals of 1971. If those were the evidences the state minister possessed to prove his point, one would seriously worry about the intellectual content of such a personality who had been entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating the law and order of the country.

Some Awami League stalwarts had earlier said in the parliament and outside that Ziaur Rahman did not fight in the war of liberation and as such, he was not a freedom fighter. One would definitely feel pity for these people, for their knowledge of our liberation war and their mental make-up. It may not be too illogical to suggest that these people need to get their brain checked.

Former minister General Shawkat Ali, former minister Col Oli Ahmed, former ambassador Brigadier Chowdhury Khaliquzzaman, former foreign secretary and ambassador Major Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and many others were present when 8 East Bengal Regiment revolted in Chittagong on the night of March 25, 1971 under the leadership of then Major Ziaur Rahman. If Zia was a Pakistani agent:

* Why would he revolt against the Pakistani occupation army at that critical juncture of our history?

* Why would he personally go and round up all Pakistani officers of the unit, including its Commanding Officer Lt Col Rashid Janjua (These officers were later killed by an angry youngster on his own)?

* Why would he make the historic, though risky, declaration of independence of Bangladesh from Kalurghat Betar on March 27, 1971?

* Why would the provisional government of Bangladesh under Tajuddin Ahmed make him a Sector Commander and later “Z” Force Commander during the war?

* Was there any evidence in his conduct of the war that Ziaur Rahman betrayed the Mukti Bahini or tried to protect the interest of Pakistan? (This writer was a small-time member of the Z force and was closely associated with Ziaur Rahman’s war activities.)

* Why would the Pakistan military in Bangladesh hunt for his family, after Ziaur Rahman’s revolt and declaration of independence? (On a tip, Begum Zia with her two infant sons were later arrested by the military and kept in confinement until the end of war. To contrast, Sheikh Mujib’s family was allowed to stay at his Dhanmandi residence under military protection and with a fat allowance. Sheikh Hasina was so happy during those days that she decided to conceive Joy.)

* Why would the government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman reward Ziaur Rahman with the gallantry of Bir Uttam?

* Why would Ziaur Rahman be promoted from Major to Major General by Bangladesh government and make him the deputy chief of staff?

* Why would the people accept Ziaur Rahman and later vote him to be the president of Bangladesh? (By any standard, he was the most successful president of the country so far.)

* Why would the people not accept his assassination on May 30, 1981? (To the contrary, people gave an instant approval to the August 15, 1975 coup in which Sheikh Mujibur Rahman died.)

* Why would over 2 million people gather at the funeral of Ziaur Rahman? (It was an unprecedented display of remorse and respect to the assassinated president and can compared to the love people showed to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10, 1972 upon his return to independent Bangladesh.)

As such, those people who claim Ziaur Rahman to be a Pakistani agent in 1971 or a non-freedom fighter are seriously in need of visiting psychiatrists.

Author: Obaid Chowdhury
New York, USA